Automatic cut-off for gasolene-engines



A. J. AND 0. I. CLEVELAND.

AUTOMATIC CUT-OFF FOR GASOLEN E ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED NOV, 18, 1919.

Patented Apr. 12, 1921.

LI er 5 14- vawto w if/filli/ 2 Cecil lC/ y iami UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE.

ARTHUR J. CLEVELAND AND CECIL I. CLEVELAND, 0F SALINA, KANSAS.

AUTOMATIC CUT-OFF FOR GASOLENE-ENGINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 12, 1921.

Application filed November 18, 1919. Serial No. 338,971.

T 0 all whomit may concern:

Be it known that we, ARTHUR J. CLEVE- LAND and CECIL I. CLEVELAND,citizens of the United States, residing at Salina, in the county ofSaline, State of Kansas, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Automatic Cut-Offs for Gasolene- Engines; and we dohereby declare the followin to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionof the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to whichit appertains to make, and use the same.

This invention relates to attachments for explosive engines and it hasparticularly to provide means for rendering the engine inactive uponfailure of the lubricant supply.

The specific object of the invention is to provide in connection with anindicator for showing the supply of lubricating oil, of means for shortcircuiting the ignition system when the indicator shows an absence oflubricating oil.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevation of an indicator embodying the presentinvention, the barrel or body of the indicator being broken away to showthe arrangement of the float through the medium of which the indicatoris operated in response to varying oil level, the parts being inposition with the short circuiting elements inactive under the infiuenceof a proper lubricant supply.

Fig. 2 is a section taken vertically and centrally through the upperportion of the apparatus with the short circuiting contactsv held apartby means of an insulating block. as when the engine is at rest-and is tobe started.

Fig. 3 is atop plan view.

Fig. 4 1s a side elevation of an explosive,

en ine equipped with the present invention.

eferrmg now to the drawings there is shown an apparatus comprisin acylindrical body or barrel 5 having a threaded nippie 6 projecting fromits lower end for connection of a pipe 7 that leads to the lubricat ingsystem of an explosive engine, in the usual manner and through which,when the engine. is operating, a quantity of the lubrieating oil issupplied to the barrel, the level of such lubricant within the barrel,varying in proportion to the quantity in the engine. as is usual. In thebarrel 5 is disposed a float 8 that is freely movable within the barreland floats upon the surface of the lubri-'- cant therein so that itrises and fails with upwardly the fluctuations of the latter. The float8 carries a stem 9 that projects vertically and centrally from it andthrough a central opening 10 1n the upper end of the barrel and wlththewall of which opening the stem is 1n sliding contact. The upper end ofthe stem, exterior to the barrel, is of hook shape. The bill of the hookas shown at 11 is directed downwardly and terminates in a contact polnt12.

Upon the upper end of the barrel 5 is disposed an insulating disk 13,that supports an annular metallic plate 14, the plate, the disk, thestem 9 and the barrel 5 being coaxial. The plate- 14 has a centralopening nular plate 14 for connection of a conduc-- tor 18 which in turnis connected with the positlve side of the lgmtion system, asdistinguished from its grounded side, and in such position as to shortcircuit the source of electricity by way of the conductor 18, the plate14, terminal 12, stem 8, barrel 5 and plpe 7 and thence through theengine in the usual manner, to which the source of electrlcity isordinarily grounded, at such times as the point 12 may be in contactwith the plate 14. Thus, when the oil supply fails, and the float 8drops, the contact 12 being thenagamst the plate 14, the ignitionsystern is short circuited.

In an indicator of this character illustrated, the float sinks when theengine stops, and at such times, the ignition system will of course beshort circuited unless some provision is made to prevent it. Hinged tothe plate 14 is a plate 19 upon which is mounted an insulatin block 20,the plate 19 being so positioned that it may be swung down upon theplate 14 with the block 26 directly beneath the contact 12, where itwill prevent engagement of it with the plate 14. A spring 21 isconnected between the plate 19 and the disk 13 in position to swing theplate 19 and outwardly from the plate 14. The weight of the stem 8 withits float is suflicient to overcome the tendency of 'the sprinm21. W henthe engine is to be started, the p ate 19 is swung over onto the plate14 and the stem 8 is raised to permit of rel thereof, the stem being ofielectro-conductive this action and then dropped with its contact 12 onthe block 20. The engine is then started and the circulation of thelubricant being then established, the float immediately rises and liftsthe stem to release the plate 19. The spring 21 then swings the plate 19out of its active position so that when the stem next descends, it mayengage its contact with the plate 14: for the purpose described.

In Fig. 4 of the drawings there is shown at 25 an explosive engineequipped with the present invention. As shown, the circuit wire 18 isconnected with the terminal of the magneto 26 with which is connectedthe ordinary short circuiting wire 27 that leads to the usual switch 28and thence to the negative side of the magneto through the engine base.It will thus be seen that when the insulating member 20 is inactive andthe oil level has drop ed to a sullicient degree, the magneto will heshort circuited and the engine will cease to operate.

What is claimed is:

1. An attachment of the class described comprising a barrel having meansfor connecting it with an oil system to receive oil therefrom, thebarrel and connecting means beingl electro-conductive, a float in thebaraving a stem extending exteriorly material and in electricalconnection with the barrel and having a hook at its outer end,'a contactplate carried by and insulated from the barrel and having means for connection of a conductor wire thereto, the contact plate being disposedfor contact by the hook upon gravitation of the float to its maximum andan insulating member pivotally connected to the contact plate andmovable into and out of position between the hook and the contact plate.

2. Anattachment of the class described comprising a barrel having meansfor connecting it with an oil system to receive oil therefrom, thebarrel and connecting means being. electro-conductive, a float in thebarrel having a stem extending exteriorly thereof, the stem being ofelectro-conductive material and in electrical connection with the barreland having a hook at its outer end, a contact plate carried by andinsulated from the barrel and having means for connection of a conductorwire thereto, the contact plate being disposed for contact by the hookupon gravitation of the float to its maximum, an insulating membermovable into and out of position between the hook and contact plate, andmeans for swinging the insulating member from such position when thehook is raised. from it.

3. An attachment of the class described comprising a float chamberhaving a contact, a float in the chamber, a circuit closer carried bythe float and in continual engagement with said contact, a secondcontact disposed for' engagement by the circuit closer in apredetermined position of the float, and an insulating plate mounted formovement into and out of the path of movement of the circuit closer intoengagement with the second contact.

4;. An attachment of the class described comprising a float chamberhaving means for connecting it with a circulating oil system formaintenance of a supply of oil to the chamber, a float in the chamber, acircuit closer carried by the float, a contact in position forengagement by the circuit closer in response to its movement with thefloat, and permanently located means movablewinto and out of position toprevent engagement of the circuit closer with the contact at times.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures in the presence of twowitnesses.

ARTHUR J. CLEVELAND. CECIL l. CLEVELAND.

l/Vitnesses:

A. L. Bnne'rson, MARTIN Anns'rnnr.

